About yours truly

Howdy! Welcome to my blog! In earlier years this was a place to share my journey as an AmeriCorps VISTA, but it has evolved over the years. So now, here is an abridged version of my working-world life story:

I graduated from Berea College in 2012 and strongly felt the Lord calling me to work there one day.  I prayed diligently, but was passed over on many opportunities I applied for.  Needing a job, I spent the next two years working various jobs in Lexington, racking up way too much stress in long commutes and way too many miles on my 2005 Focus. I never kept Berea out of my mind, though, so I kept looking.  Finally, on the verge of burn-out at my job at the time, I came across this Grow Appalachia AmeriCorps VISTA opportunity (You can thank Facebook for that), and I jumped on it like crazy!  It wasn't until later when I realized what I would be sacrificing; I walked away from a full-time, benefited job in my field into no benefits and crappy pay.

I stayed for nearly three years, after they offered me a full-time job. I honestly thought I'd be there forever. I loved my co-workers and I loved the Berea College community and the higher education field. But then my circumstances changed. One thing I've learned, though, is that God knows. He works everything out for our good (That just so happens to be Scripture- my favorite verse, to be exact).

Hi :)

In April of 2017, I learned I was going to be laid off due to a reduction in grant funding. 3 months of collecting unemployment will teach you a thing or two about humility. Then, 9 months into an Administrative Assistant position at EKU in their College of Education, I was laid off for a second time. I met some great people there and learned a ton, and it reaffirmed my goals of staying in higher ed. Needless to say, it was a huge blow. After a lot of prayer, a trip to Australia, and everything else in between, I started a new role as a Senior Office Associate, split between two departments in the College of Science, back at Eastern Kentucky University. It definitely keeps me on my toes, but I am blessed to be in a position that leaves me fulfilled and helping others. On top of that, I am pursuing a new dream in higher ed: academic advising, and I am enrolled in a Master's program here at EKU, in the hopes that it will help me get "my foot in the door", so to speak. I hope to graduate December 2020.

More about me: 

-I was born and grew up in southeastern Ohio- Guysville, a town of a few hundred that has no stoplights, approximately 20 minutes outside of Athens, home of Ohio University (Go Bobcats??) One of three kiddos, with teacher parents who believed in family vacations, home-cooked meals, "sharing, caring, and fair", and hugs. Although far from perfect, I'm definitely blessed and fortunate to have had the upbringing I did, and if you weren't so lucky, here's a big ol' *HUG* from me. Know that family doesn't always have to mean blood relatives. I'm thankful for my blood family and my family I have cultivated through church, work, and friendships over the years. 

-Speaking of hugs, if you ever bump into me, don't be afraid to give me one. 

-There's my twiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnn! Kelly! She's pretty rad! We're exactly sixty seconds apart in age, identical, and the absolute best of friends. I simply cannot imagine my life without her. She pushes my buttons, makes me laugh, is fiercely devoted to her work and friends, and just loves people and loves smiling! She consistently inspires me to be a better person. Although she lives in New England, we're still as close as ever. I love doing life with her! SHE IS AWESOME. 

(That's us on a trip to Florida a few years ago. We're on one of those people movers at the airport. This picture basically sums up our entire relationship). 

-I co-habitate with two furry roommates, Yoda and Wiley. Yoda loves to play with paper, peeps, not meows, loves to sleep on my feet, and enjoys "making biscuits" on fleecy objects such as blankets and pajama pants. Wiley is big and gray and fluffy and full of love and will always love you back! He loves eating- all the time, as often as he can- and purrs, purrs, purrs...He's pretty chill.

-I am probably the world's unpickiest eater. 

-If you give me coffee, I'm your best friend forever. But please, not black. Seriously, I've tried it and I just. can't. do. it.

-I love sweet things. All of the sweet things. Cheesecake of any kind, coconut cream pie, and tiramisu are my all-time favorites. 

-Speaking of coffee...Coffee shops are one of my favorite in-general hang-out spots. So cozy, unrushed, inviting...oh and yeah coffee. 

-I'm a little bit of a geek. I never quite got into Star Trek, of which I offer my sincerest apologies, but I am what you would consider a "Whovian" and "Ringer".  I did recently sit through the Star Wars series with my husband (more on him later), and I...enjoyed them, for lack of a better word. 

-I tweet! Follow me at @hrabs2412. Or not.  I totally won't take it personally.

-I am exactly right in the middle between I and E on the Myers-Briggs scale. Meaning: I like quiet time, but I also like hanging out. As long as I know a few people, and things don't get too wild, I'm comfortable in many social settings. 

-And THIS GUY. IS. AWESOME. He rocks my socks, makes me laugh, prays for me, and is just a big wonderful man who loves Jesus and doing dorky, romantic, and exciting things with me. I'm so pumped for our future!
We put the "new" in "newlyweds"- we have been married since December '17 and I am so blessed to be spending the rest of my life with him! He also makes the best scrambled eggs- no joke!

Favorites:

Color- pink, purple, and gray
Season- tie between spring and fall

Movie- tie between Love Actually and Titanic
Food- all the sweet things (see above), Chinese, sushi, soup, Justin's scrambled eggs, Olive Garden shrimp scampi, anything my mom makes :) 
Animal- red panda. And kitties!!!!

Place to buy clothes- Old Navy and Amazon (seriously)

Vacation spot- a beach, Australia, Boston

Things to do when not working- be lazy with Justin, hike, sleep in, cook, watch movies

Music- so many!!!! for King & Country, Bethel, Mumford & Sons, Fleetwood Mac, Jeremy Camp, Phil Collins.....just to name a few :) 
Board game (why not??)- Upwords, Boggle, Sequence
Flower- Yellow roses
TV Shows- Right now it's The Blacklist and This is Us, for currently running. Off-air or need to catch up are Frasier, ER, and Doctor Who